Screenshot 1 of 4. A boat on open water shows a filled map item in the hotbar and a map displayed beside the boat in Boat Item View.
What Boat Item View works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge |
| Minecraft versions | 1.16.5, 1.17.1, 1.18.2, 1.19.4, 1.20.6, 1.21.11, 26.1.2, 26.2, 26.3 |
| Environment | Client |
Boat Item View is a client-side mod for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge that draws the item in your hand while you sit in a moving boat. This mod changes only the rendering, so you can finally see what you are holding.
Loaders and versions
- Fabric: Minecraft 1.16.5 to 26.3. The newest build needs no dependencies, optionally Fabric API and Mod Menu; some builds for 1.19.1 to 1.21.10 require Fabric API.
- Forge: Minecraft 1.16.5 to 26.3. The newest build needs no dependencies.
- NeoForge: Minecraft 1.21 to 26.3. The newest build needs no dependencies.
Turning it on
Place the mod file in your mods folder as usual (see how to install mods on Java if you need the steps), then follow these.
- 1.Open minecraft/config/boatiview/client.toml, or go to Mods, Boat Item View, Configure if Mod Menu is installed.
- 2.Set showHandsInMovingBoat to true.
- 3.Add namespaced item ids to itemsToShowInMovingBoat, for example minecraft:carrot.
- 4.Save the file, or press Save and Quit in the Mod Menu screen, then hold the item in your main hand or offhand.
Fabric builds ship with Cloth Config packaged inside, so the settings screen needs nothing extra. On Forge and NeoForge, Configured is an optional way to get a config screen, and NeoForge from 1.21 onward includes its own.
What it does and does not do
Two settings drive it. showHandsInMovingBoat toggles the rendering, and itemsToShowInMovingBoat defines which items are rendered, each by its namespaced id. It is a narrow mod by design.
Credits
50ap5ud5 wrote the code. The original idea and testing came from Treblero. Translations are accepted as pull requests on GitHub, using the en_us.json language file as the template.
Questions about Boat Item View.
4 questions
Does Boat Item View work on multiplayer servers?
It is a client-side mod, so you install it on your own game and not on a dedicated server. It only changes how your held item is drawn. Because server logic is untouched, the server does not need to know the mod exists.
Can I use the item I see while rowing?
No. The mod only renders the held item while the boat is moving. Using it is still blocked by vanilla server-side logic, which the mod does not change. Treat the view as a way to keep a map or food visible.
How do I choose which items show in the boat?
Add each item's namespaced id, such as minecraft:carrot, to the itemsToShowInMovingBoat option in client.toml, or edit the list through the Mod Menu config screen. Save the change, and make sure showHandsInMovingBoat is set to true.
Does Boat Item View work on Bedrock?
No. It is a Java mod for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge, and Bedrock cannot load mods in that format.
